Wales overtakes Northern Ireland to pull into 2nd place for total population vaccinated in the UK

Wales has overtaken Northern Ireland to pull into second place for the total population vaccinated against Covid-19 within the United Kingdom.

The Welsh Government had received criticism last week that they were lagging behind the other nations of the UK in vaccinating the population.

Yesterday’s published figures, however, mean that Wales has vaccinated 8.4% of its population, ahead of Northern Ireland which has vaccinated 8.2%.

England has vaccinated the most at 9.8% and Scotland the least at 7.4%.

264,538 people in Wales have now received the coronavirus vaccine. The figure includes the first dose only as al four nations have decided to delay the second in order to give more people some immunity.

NEW: More big changes to the UK-wide picture for total population who’ve had a first vaccine against #COVID19. Wales has overtaken Northern Ireland into 2nd. England still leads. Scotland lagging behind.

England 9.8%
Wales 8.4%
Northern Ireland 8.2%
Scotland 7.4% pic.twitter.com/Q2FlEgc7Fe

— Peter Gillibrand (@GillibrandPeter) January 24, 2021

Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething said that Wales’ figures had increased again with an extra 24,000 vaccines delivered yesterday.

“The weather will affect today’s delivery but many more people will receive the vaccine today,” he said. “As ever I’m very proud of our NHS Wales led vaccination programme.”

New Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said yesterday that the improvement was “very good news”.

“I’ve been critical when necessary over the past few weeks, particularly in relation to some of the puzzling messaging and communication from Welsh Government,” he said.

“But credit where credit is due, these are good numbers and heading in the right direction.”

Weather

Four vaccination centres in Wales had to close today due to snow.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board said appointments at Bridgend, Rhondda, Abercynon and Merthyr Tydfil centres for Sunday will be rescheduled for safety reasons.

In Nefyn in Gwynedd, GP Eilir Hughes reported that his practice was open to those who had a vaccination appointment:

Despite the snow that rarely falls and sticks in Nefyn, people have come and we’re on schedule. If you have a slot this afternoon WE ARE OPEN.

The efforts to get this morning to work has been humbling. I will share the story later today. But for now- diolch to EVERYONE! #TîmLlŷn pic.twitter.com/yeNievNprg

— Dr Eilir Hughes freshair.wales (@hughes_eilir) January 24, 2021